How-to-Use Writing Journals in Kindergarten

Have you been wondering how-to-use writing journals in kindergarten to practice handwriting, encoding, fine motor, and more? Writing journals are also great for showing growth and development throughout the year! Keep reading for more tips and a Science of Reading aligned FREE printable to help you get started with writing journals in kindergarten!

Writing journals create a space to see progress throughout the year that students and families will love! Using a letter sound card helps students each day because they turn one page behind that card to keep their place independently. Keep reading for more tips!

Check out these related posts:

• Writing Center Ideas in Kindergarten
• Word Bank Writing Centers
• Teaching Letters & Sounds So They Stick
• Tips for using a Sound Wall in Kindergarten
• Free Reading Strategies Bookmark & Posters

THIS ACTIVITY GOES WELL WITH THESE SIMPLY KINDER RESOURCES:

How-to-Use Writing Journals in Kindergarten

A great way to work on encoding, fine motor, and build a routine with consistency is to use a writing journal. Check out this step-by-step video to learn more:

As you see, using a writing card makes it super easy for students to be independent by helping them keep their page. Students can also use it as a reference for writing letters, sounds, and double-checking their writing!

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps when creating your writing journals:

• Make sure each student has a spiral-bound writing notebook
• Print the FREE writing card at 90%
• Laminate and trim the writing card
• Use regular box tape to attach it to the front cover
• IMPORTANT: Leave a space so there’s room to grow when it folds into the notebook
• Teach students to flip the writing card page into the front cover for every new page they use!

Perfect for documenting students’ growth all year long!

What’s on the Free Writing Card?

The writing card provides support for students to grow as independent writers. At the top there are directions with pictures to: Say the Word, Tap the Word, Write the Sounds, and Read the Word. This process helps students work on phonemic awareness and build connections between speech and print.

The next section includes Science of Reading-Aligned images for each letter sound as well differentiated options with long vowels, short vowels, and digraphs.

The last section is a checklist for students to follow when reviewing their writing. Students check for finger spaces, upper and lowercase letters, punctuation, writing neatly, and checking for understanding. SUPER important for students to re-read and check their own writing to look for ways to improve!

FREE Writing Card

To help you get started with writing journals in kindergarten, we’ve created this FREE Science of Reading-Aligned Writing Card! Download it now inside Simply Kinder + HERE as part of the FREE plan. Not a member yet? Learn more here and join now!